Psychological Perspectives on Childcare in Indian Indigenous Health Systems

This book examines childcare in ancient Indian health systems from the perspective of developmental psychology. The author extensively studies ancient texts and charts from Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Tibetan medicines and analyses how gleanings from these systems can be useful in creating preferred practices for modern childcare systems. Though the four systems originated in different geographical regions, they share many common core constructs of a holistic approach consisting of mind-body unity. The core of psychological healing in these systems rests on bringing about harmony and balance of disturbed functions through diet, daily regimen and drugs. However, despite commonalities, understanding of childcare in the four systems varies a great deal. The differences seem to be rooted in local sociocultural, religious and folk healing practices. Remarkably, in all of them, prescriptions of drugs and behaviour are psychologically grounded and uncannily modern from the perspective of developmental psychology. The book raises the following questions as important for further research: whether holistic approaches be adopted for the empirical study of indigenous health systems, where their strength lies; whether personality frameworks identified in the four systems can be incorporated into contemporary medical practice to its advantage; whether preferred childcare practices among the four systems can be studied empirically in current paediatric, psychological and parenting research; and whether faith, if it is of importance to the patient, can be incorporated as an element into contemporary medical practice. Front Matter....Pages i-xxi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Introduction: Indigenous Healthcare Systems in India....Pages 3-13 Basic Principles of Ayurveda....Pages 15-29 Developmental Approach to Childcare....Pages 31-45 Disorders of the Newborn....Pages 47-53 Common Childhood Disorders and Treatments....Pages 55-69 Serious Disorders of Childhood and Treatments....Pages 71-86 Front Matter....Pages 87-87 Basic Principles of Unani System....Pages 89-95 Developmental Approach to ChildCare....Pages 97-103 Diseases of Children and Some Common Treatments....Pages 105-114 Front Matter....Pages 115-115 Basic Principles of Siddha System....Pages 117-122 Developmental Approaches to Childcare (Balavagadam)....Pages 123-128 Disorders of Childhood and Treatments....Pages 129-143 Front Matter....Pages 145-145 Basic Principles of Tibetan Medicine....Pages 147-168 Developmental Approach to Child Care....Pages 169-177 Common Childhood Disorders and Treatments....Pages 179-188 Serious Disorders of Childhood and Treatments....Pages 189-193 Front Matter....Pages 195-195 Gleanings from Ayurveda....Pages 197-208 Gleanings from Unani Medicine....Pages 209-214 Gleanings from Siddha Medicine....Pages 215-221 Gleanings from Tibetan Medicine....Pages 223-231 Front Matter....Pages 195-195 Reflections on Childcare Across Systems....Pages 233-248 Implications for Theory, Practice and Research....Pages 249-265 Erratum to: Disorders of Childhood and Treatments....Pages E1-E1